9 Amazing Benefits of Durian Fruit

Have you ever heard of the durian fruit before? We wouldn’t be surprised if you have or if you haven’t, as most of the people who know of it but have never tried it are likely repulsed because of its odor-which is said to resemble smelly feet! You wouldn’t want to eat that now, would you?

Smell aside, it really isn’t that awful. In fact, the taste is quite different once it hits your taste buds. It’s creamy, soft and mellow texture compliments its intense flavor nicely, so that it is actually pleasurable to eat.

It can be found natively growing in many Southeast Asian countries, where it is sometimes known as the king of fruits. Externally, it has several small spikes that is said to resemble the breadfruit, and is actually a normal part of cuisine in these parts of the world.

Wondering what makes this fruit a nutritional superpower? Let’s check out the reasons now.

1. Promotes Energy Levels

Durian is extremely calorie dense. In fact, if you are able to consume a sizable portion of this fruit, you could very well be on your way to gaining a huge amount of weight. But back to this specific benefit. A small 100 g serving of durian fruit supplies well over 300 cal, the majority of which are carbohydrates. This makes it ideal for boosting energy levels in a pinch.

Some people prefer to use the durian as a pre-workout food since the excess calories you can expect from consuming the food should be put to good use. Either this or you go shopping for a new wardrobe!

2. Promotes A Good Mood

One of the most important brain chemicals for the regulation of mood is a neurotransmitter by the name of serotonin. It has been found that low levels of serotonin are most often associated with depressive illness, making it necessary to take steps to increase the levels of this compound.

One natural way to go about doing this is to consume foods rich in vitamin B6, which is involved in the synthesis of serotonin. Durian fruit is rich in this particular B vitamin, which can go a far away in helping to regulate mood, especially if you possess a family history of depressive illness. Carbohydrates are also associated with improved mood, explaining why durian may be so helpful in fostering a good mood.

In addition to vitamin B6, durian fruit also contains the amino acid tryptophan, which itself is one of the precursors to serotonin. This combination of nutrients will not only improve your mood, but also help remedy insomnia to help you get to sleep.

If the lack of sleep is a possible contributor to your foul mood, try consuming a bit of durian daily for the next several days and report back if you observe getting better sleep.

3. May Slow Down Aging

The aging process is inevitable, but should not be left to run amok and result in premature aging before your time. Durian fruit may help to slow down this process thanks to the generous amounts of vitamin C it contains.

Vitamin C is one of the most important antioxidant nutrients which neutralizes the effects of free radicals that can promote accelerated aging states. By minimizing the rate of oxidative processes in the body you are likely to age slower.

4. Supports Digestive Health

Even though durian doesn’t fit the bill of what the standard high-fiber fruit looks like, it still contains a significant amount of this nutrient. Dietary fiber is very important for helping to retain bowel regularity and overall digestive efficiency.

The high fiber content coupled with its significant presence of fat also ensures that waste material makes a speedy transit throughout your digestive tract.

5. May Reduce Cancer Risk

Durian fruit may help to reduce your risk of cancer like many other plant-based foods, thanks to the presence of antioxidant nutrients, but also fiber which minimizes the time waste material spends in contact with healthy cells of the colon. It is believed that one major contributory factor in the development of colon cancer is retention of fecal matter for long periods of time.

By also helping reduce oxidative load on cells and even at the level of the DNA, your relative risk of experiencing cellular mutations that lead to cancer may be reduced.

6. Natural Anemia Remedy

Durian fruit can be considered a very effective natural remedy for anemia, either for treatment or prevention owing to the spectrum of nutrients it contains that support production of red blood cells. These include iron, folate, vitamin C and copper which all contribute in helping to maintain optimal red blood cell count.

The presence of vitamin C helps to enhance absorption of dietary iron and is especially helpful for non-heme iron that may experience greater difficulty to be absorbed.

7. Blood Pressure Regulation

Durian fruit contains the electrolyte mineral potassium which plays a critical role in the maintenance of normal blood pressure. Potassium acts as a counterbalance to sodium, to help flush excess fluid out of the body, and facilitate blood vessel dilation.

Durian fruit also contains a modest amount of calcium which plays a helping role in facilitating blood vessel flexibility, so that they are able to cope with necessary changes in blood volume that can have a negative effect on blood pressure.

In turn, this may help to reduce your risk of cardiovascular disease and even stroke, which hypertension is strongly associated with.

8. Improves Sexual Health

We have chosen sexual health, as opposed to merely aphrodisiac properties since durian seems to exert benefits that positively improve many aspects of sexual health. It can improve blood flow throughout the body, which would likely contribute to improved erectile potency, but can also support stamina and the health of sperm thanks to its antioxidant actions on these cells. Sperm, like any other cell type are subjected to oxidative damage that can cause a deterioration in quality. Improvements in motility, sperm count and overall increases in fertility rate have all been observed following regular consumption of durian fruit.

9. Help Support Healthy Cholesterol Levels

Durian fruit can help promote the removal of triglycerides from blood, and also cause an acute drop and LDL values by increasing utilization of cholesterol for production of bile acids. Fiber found in durian binds bile salts and promotes its removal, making it necessary for cholesterol to produce more bile.

Under normal circumstances, bile is recycled and not removed from circulation meaning that cholesterol is scarcely recruited to make more. Thus, this can be considered a safe way of optimizing cholesterol values, even though transient diarrhea may occur.

Conclusion

It’s time to get past the superficial smell of durian and start taking advantage of its many health benefits. Made into ice cream durian fruit is extremely delicious, or added to desserts you are likely to experience flavors that almost seem phenomenal.

What are you waiting for? This exotic fruit can positively enhance your life in so many ways, so get to eating!

Michael Jessimy is a Reg. Pharmacist, Bodybuilder, Nutrition Consultant, Fitness Pro.
He is a specialist fitness writer that can easily craft pieces which are both informative and easy to read. Michael is a certified medical write and a qualified pharmacist that makes medical writing easily understandable by the general population.
Michael Jessimy range of expertise encompasses pharmaceutical and medical writing, White Paper production, as well as Fitness and Bodybuilding consultation.

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